The study also showed that 49% think they are not being given enough time or resources to work productively. Apart from productivity, the survey covered three other key areas – technology, the human touch, and strategy.

When it comes to technology, 35% of Malaysians think that management have very little understanding of technology; with 40% citing too little is invested in tech. However, there seems to be positive human touch in Malaysia with more than three-quarters of the respondents (86%) saying communications are excellent or generally good. Similarly, 40% think management could do more to support technology that enables collaboration.

On the downside, “Malaysia appears to have the most work to do to remain competitive in the APAC region” with more than half (51%) think management often struggles to adapt to changes. Not only that, 48% say that organisation do not follow a well-defined strategy.

The report stated: “Responses from our survey highlighted significant strengths in terms of leader and manager readiness, so there is much to build on.”“However, organisations in Malaysia need to improve strategic thinking and become more flexible as a matter of urgency,” it added.

In comparison, 40% of Singaporeans say that they have no influence on strategy at all, with 39% citing there is a top-down approach from management.

The study said: “Senior management across Singapore appear not to be read to take on the world’s disruptors. Too many respondents say they have little awareness of or influence on company strategy – which affects productivity and creates too many barriers to progress.”

Furthermore, 74% say that not enough budget is allocated when it comes to technology despite 40% citing management having a strong awareness of technology. This could hint that “technology know-how is probably driven by social use.”

“Organisations therefore must have a strategy to implement technology, both internally and externally, for maximum advantage,” the report said.

As for productivity in Singapore, 67% say that they don’t have enough time or resources to work productively. Moreover, 76% say managers are not close enough to operations and, in some cases, very distant.

Jeremy Blain, managing partner, Cegos Group, said: “Productivity in Singapore is usually management issue, and could be drastically improved by removing barriers to progress, such as layers of hierarchy, opportunities for conflict, too much red tape etc.”

“With greater line and senior management support, workers will be able to perform more successfully,” he concluded.